Same Flies as in March.
It is best to make your Flies in a warm room, or in warm weather out of
doors,--your silk will then wax kindly, which is of great consequence
in making Flies.
The three best winged Flies for Spring, are the Red Fly, Blue, Dun and
Brown.
The three principal Flies for AUTUMN are the little Whirling Blue, Pale
Blue, and Willow Fly.
FEBRUARY.--Red Fly.
MARCH.--Red Fly, Dun Fly and Brown Drake.
APRIL.--The same as March with the addition of the Grannam or Green
Tail, and the Spider Fly.
MAY.--The Black Caterpillar, the Little Iron Blue, the Yellow Sally
Fly, the Oak Fly and the Orl Fly.
JUNE.--Sky Coloured Blue, the Cadiss Fly, the Blue Gnat, Large Red Ant
Fly, Black Ant Fly, Little Whirling Blue, Pale Blue.
JULY.--Some of the same Flies as June, with the addition of the Wasp
Fly, Black Palmer, July Dun, and Orange Fly.
AUGUST.--Small Red and Black Ant Flies, Willow Flies.
SEPTEMBER.--Pale Blues, and Whirling Blue.
OCTOBER.--Same as March, with the addition of the Dark and Pale Blues.
_March._--1. The Dark Brown--dubbed with the brown hair of a cow, and
the grey feather of a Mallard for wings. 2. The Great Whirling
Dun--dubbed with squirrels fur, for wings, grey feather of mallard. 3.
Early Bright Brown--dubbed with brown hair from behind the ears of a
spaniel dog, wings from a mallard. 4. The Blue Dun--dubbed with down
from a black greyhound's neck, mixed with violet coloured blue worsted,
wings pale part of a starling's wing. 5. The Black Gnat--dubbed with
black mohair, the wings of the lightest part of a starling.
_April._--1. The Dark Brown,--brown spaniel's hair mixed with a little
violet camlet, warp with yellow silk, wings, grey feather from mallard.
2. The Violet Fly--dubbed with dark violet stuff, and a little dun
bear's hair mixed with it, wings from a mallard. 3. The Little Whirling
Dun--dubbed with fox cubs fur, ash coloured, ribbed about with yellow
silk, wings a pale grey feather from a mallard. 4. Small Bright
Brown--dubbed with camel's hair, and marten's yellow fur mixed, wings
pale feather of a starling.
_May._--The Dun Cut--dubbed with brown hair, a little blue and yellow
mixed with it, wings, woodcock, and two horns at the head from a
squirrel's tail. 2. The Stone Fly--dubbed with dun bear's hair, mixed
with a little brown and yellow camlet, so placed that the fly may be
yellower on the belly and towards the tail than any where else, place
two hairs from a black cat's beard, in such a way that they may stand
upright, rib the body with yellow silk, and make the wings very large
from the dark grey feathers of a mallard. 3. The Camlet Fly--dubbed
with dark brown shining camlet, ribbed over with green silk, wings,
grey feather of a mallard. 4. Cow Dung Fly--dubbed with light brown and
yellow camlet mixed, or dirty lemon coloured mohair with the hackle of
a landrail.[5]
[5] A good Fly on cold windy days.
_June._--1. The Ant Fly--dubbed with brown and red camlet mixed, wings,
starling's feather, pale. 2. Little Black Gnat--dubbed with black
strands from an ostrich, wings, light feather from underneath
starling's wing. 3. Brown Palmer--dubbed with light brown seal's hair,
warped with ash coloured silk and a red hackle over the whole. 4. The
Small Red Spinner--dubbed with yellow hair from behind the ear of a
spaniel, ribbed with gold twist, a red hackle over the whole, the wings
from a starling.[6]
[6] This fly kills well when the water is low and fine.
_July._--1. Orange Fly--dubbed with brown fur of a badger, warped with
red silk, wings from dark grey feather of mallard, with a head made of
red silk. 2. The Wasp Fly--dubbed with brown bear or cow's hair, ribbed
with yellow silk, and the wings of the inside of starling's wing. 3.
The Black Palmer--dubbed with black copper coloured peacock's harl, and
a black cock's hackle over that, wings, blackbird. 4. The July
Dun--dubbed with the down of a watermouse, mixed with bluish seal's
fur, or with the fur of a mole, mixed with a little marten's fur,
warped with ash coloured silk, wood-pigeon's wing feather for wings.--A
good killer.
_August._--The Late Ant Fly--dubbed with the blackish brown hair of a
cow, warp some red silk in for the tag of the tail, the wings from a
woodcock. 2. The Fern Fly--dubbed with the fur from a hare's neck,
which is of a fern colour, wings dark grey feather of mallard. 3. The
White Palmer--dubbed with white peacock's harl, and a black hackle over
it. 4. The Pale Blue--dubbed with very light blue fur, mixed with a
little yellow marten's fur, and a blue hackle over the whole, the wings
from a blue pigeon.--A very killing fly. 5. The Harry Longlegs--dubbed
with darkish brown hair, and a brown hackle over it, head rather large.
_September._--The Peacock Harl--dubbed with ruddy peacock's harl,
warped with green silk, and a red cock's hackle over that. 2. The Camel
Brown--dubbed with old brownish hair, with red silk, wings dark grey
feather from mallard. 3. The Late Badger--dubbed with black fur of a
badger or spaniel, mixed with the soft yellow down of a sandy coloured
pig, wings dark mallard. 4. The September Dun--dubbed with the down of
a mouse, warped with ash coloured silk, wings feather of a starling.
_October._--Same as March.
As I never fished for Trout in November, I attempt no list of Flies for
that month. From Michaelmas to the middle of February, all anglers
should refrain from killing Trout.
_Moths Brown and White for Evening Fishing._--The Brown--from the
feathers of a brown Owl, dubbed with light mohair, dark grey Cock's
hackle for legs, and red head. White Moth--strands from an Ostrich,
wings from a white Pigeon, a white hackle for legs, and a black
head.--Hooks No. 2 or 3. Good killers at dusk on a Summer's evening.